Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hi everyone! 

This was a very busy week at the fair office, as we get closer and closer to fair week. The first half of the week I was able to independently sell tickets, process payments and donations, navigate through google drive and excel sheet and alphabetize files, both digitally and on paper. Aside from the computer work, I was also able to meet various members of the board, sponsors and individuals seeking to rent portions of the grounds. It was so cool to see the various participants and contributors all come together to help with pre-fair needs and preparations. 

Wednesday morning all the fellows gathered at the Columbus Foundation for our first learning session. It was so good to hear about everyone’s first week and what roles they played at their individual organizations. We then dove into a presentation about the Columbus Foundation and learned more about how it partners with donors to support and financially assist local non-profits in the city of Columbus. Dr. Lomax shared just how important it is to support the local community through non-profit work and how the donations of generous individuals and the hard work of those at the Columbus Foundation are what make it all happen. 

The second half of the morning was spent watching a Ted-Talk about the importance of the “Why” behind everything. The speaker talked about how from a business perspective, leading with the “why” is extremely important. People naturally make decisions based on emotion  therefore offering something people could potentially connect with is extremely important to selling a product/service. Dr. Lomax then talked about the power each of us inherently have within us, and how important it is to tap into that and understand the value and benefits that come with that power. One specific thing Dr. Lomax said that really stuck out to me was the phrase, “What you do serves as proof of what you believe”. I think this phrase is extremely impactful because it serves as an important reminder that knowing or unknowingly, we each have an impact on the world and people around us. What kind of impact we have is fully up to us, and our personal beliefs. As young adults, still figuring out how to navigate the world, understanding the idea that our actions speak volumes of our character is key to becoming good and kind human beings. 

For the rest of the week at the fairgrounds I was able to step out of the office and do some hands-on work outside moving flowers for a flower show the fair is putting on and prepping wooden boards that a local college student will use to paint a mural that will go up on a building next to the main road. I was also able to help with some yard work for the areas surrounding the fair. I am so excited to see what the rest of summer will look like! See you next week!

~Elena

My first week at CHA was incredible! 

Being the Development Fellow means helping to plan A Taste to Remember (TTR), CHA’s late summer fundraiser. The fundraiser takes place in Dublin, OH and brings in local food vendors from all over central Ohio. This week consisted of brainstorming various items for both the live and silent auctions at the event. I researched what baskets have done well at past events by consulting event records, found new potential contacts for donations, and then began to group items together. Given that the event is a Casino Night theme, I enjoyed integrating ideas from Vegas Vacation and songs made famous by the Rat Pack for titles and themes of each basket!

In addition to working diligently on this spreadsheet, I drafted an email template that I will use to reach out to these contacts next week. Every Tuesday, the Development team has a check in with Marketing to ensure everyone is on the same page. I was able to participate in this meeting, and join my supervisor at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) monthly luncheon. The educational program was given by Trace Kingham, Founder and CEO of Reimagined Experiences. He talked about his company that helps nonprofits amplify their highly anticipated events, and how to continue donor engagement and momentum once the event has passed. We networked with other nonprofit development professionals, allowing me to have a glimpse into what a career within this field could look like. 

Anne Marie has also had me do research on AI and its role in mission-driven nonprofits. As AI continues to emerge, there are concerns about how it will impact an organization’s voice and if it will take away from opportunity. Like any employee, AI requires training to obtain the best result. My readings have found that if the organization is on board and has staff to support the integration, it can only set them up for success.

During my second week of my fellowship, I had the opportunity to engage with my cohort members, attend an in-person event, develop my digital marketing skills, and interact with entrepreneurs.

During our professional development session, I was able to discuss and hear updates from each of my cohort members about their fellowship sites. We also engaged in an in-depth discussion to learn more about The Columbus Foundation and its impact on the community.

On Wednesday, I attended a Showcase Event in Cleveland. There, I engaged with entrepreneurs who had recently completed the Northeast Ohio Social Enterprise Accelerator program. I had the opportunity to observe their pitches and witness participants winning cash prizes. This event was incredibly insightful because I gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to run an organization. I also connected with other SEA Change employees who work in the Northeast Ohio region. I enjoyed learning about their roles within the organization and hearing about their experiences.

Furthermore, I was able to listen in on a training session for entrepreneurs in the Columbus cohort. I learned a variety of new terms and concepts that are important in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. This week’s topic focused on measuring impact—essentially identifying the metrics entrepreneurs use to evaluate the success of their organizations. During the session, I was able to connect concepts from my master’s program to strengthen my understanding of data evaluation and performance measurement. Additionally, I learned more about the entrepreneurs’ business models and how they were navigating challenges related to effectively measuring their organizations’ success.

Lastly, I focused on creating social media content and evaluating the employee onboarding process. With SEA Change hosting the Festival for Good in September, the organization is working to increase awareness throughout the summer. I created a graphic using Canva and edited and posted a video. With no prior experience using Canva, I have enjoyed learning the platform and developing a skill that I can add to my resume. Additionally, I continued reviewing the onboarding process to identify redundancies and inefficiencies. I have already begun updating the process and incorporating my recommendations for improvement.

Gaining practical experience and exposure is crucial to my professional development. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity because I am learning a wealth of knowledge while simultaneously strengthening my technical and professional skill set.

In just my first day, I can already tell how rewarding this experience will be both professionally and personally.

Yesterday, I had my first “official” day at the Children’s Hunger Alliance since my supervisor was out of town last week. For reference, the Children’s Hunger Alliance serves all children in Ohio to ensure that each child has access to a nutritious meal. Through their six programs and exceptional staff, they aim to meet kids where they are at – in childcare, schools, after school, summer programs, etc. I had the opportunity to sit down with my exceptional supervisor, Anne-Marie Wilson, and talk about the upcoming fundraiser that I will help her organize known as A Taste to Remember. This event brings food professionals from all over central Ohio along with amazing auction items to raise money for the cause. This year, the theme is a Casino Night, so I spent some of my first day researching ideas of potential auction baskets we can create. She also gave me a detailed analysis of records that show all details of her planning the event in past years. Anne-Marie is a great resource since she informed me that before her role at CHA, she had worked in finance. It provides a great perspective for someone who doesn’t regularly receive that information in my degree program.

The second half of my day included a tour at the CHA warehouse, to truly see where the magic takes place. Part of my role this summer will be working with volunteers who help the warehouse staff package the food boxes for the kids. Given how much of an integral part volunteers are to the CHA mission, understanding how to facilitate these connections is imperative for the future of CHA and nonprofits alike.

Throughout the summer, I am eager to learn about donor engagement, volunteerism, and various careers offered at CHA.

My name is Kameron and this was my first week as an intern of Tech Corps. For information, Tech Corps is a nonprofit organization that primarily teaches K-12 students about STEM using technology. They believe that technology is a educational tool first and foremost, they utilize it to its fullest capabilities to enrich developing young minds. Students walk away with knowledge and experience that be used for real world problem-solving and serves as a basis for a greater scientific understand of the world. Tech Corps’ mission aligns with my passion for both STEM and Tech. Going into this internship, I was excited to see where this opportunity would take me. I was stunned.

This first week was phenomenal. The week served as a preparation week for numerous Tech Corps programs around the Columbus area. I experienced first hand the amount of time, effort, diligence, and commit it takes to keep an organization running. It takes many people with different, vast skills and expertise(s) all working together with a common goal. All of my colleagues were a pleasure to work with. They took the time out of their busy schedules to formally introduce themselves and make me feel included. I could always rely on them and in turn they could rely on me.

For my day-to-day work, I underwent a variety of tasks. In the first half of the week, I worked largely as an assistant to others. I helped my colleagues with any complications that arose. Namely, I prepared equipment for future use and organized materials where needed. In the second half of the week, I worked as quality assurance. I was tasked with reviewing lesson instructions, ensuring student activities were accessible, and testing mini computers (known as micro:bits) in the field. I arduously worked around the clock to give the best assurance possible for the team.

To briefly conclude, I greatly appreciated my time at Tech Corps. I am thrilled to continue my internship over the summer and look forward to what the future holds.

Kameron

Here at the PAST Foundation over the summer, we provide week long summer camps geared towards Elementary, Middle School, and High School students over 9 weeks. These camps are designed to be Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused and aim toward getting students introduced (and possibly interested) in the differing fields. My role here is as a Research Intern. Our goal is to analyze how students feel towards the camps and how they associate themselves with being a “STEM” Person. 

The last 2 weeks, my teammates and I have been working on modifying different survey instruments to better suit different age ranges. We changed the language for students in grades 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12. It was a bit difficult to find the right words at times, we did not want it to be too complex for the students to understand, but have enough information to garner the correct responses. Additionally, the questions we ask on the surveys must be compliant with the Ohio Means Jobs Readiness (OMJ) standards. So, we had a lot of brainstorming to do to ensure they were met.

After we modified all of the surveys, we were ready to prepare for the first week of camps! For this, we go through a very long list of students (around 300+) and determine which students will be present the first week. Then we are able to create rosters so our week can run smoothly.

This week was the first official start to the summer camps! Since our responsibility is data analysis and acquisition, we administer the survey we helped modify the weeks prior. On Mondays, we administer Pre-Surveys to students who are taking their first camp of the summer. Post-surveys are administered on the Friday of their last camp they will be in. By doing it this way, we can see how much the students’ responses change throughout their time at PAST this summer. On Friday, we collect all of the data of the summer so far (this would be week 1 as of now), and see what the students have been saying. The first week, we don’t observe much, but this is sure to not be the case by the end of the summer. 

This is my 2nd summer at The PAST Foundation. I am so excited to be back here and with a fun group of interns! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer will have in store.

See you next week,

Danyelle Bumpus

My first week as a Summer Fellow with The Columbus Foundation, placed at the Human Service Chamber (HSC) of Franklin County, was filled with learning, connection, and exciting opportunities to contribute. The week began with orientation alongside the other Summer Fellows in the cohort. It was great to meet such a talented group of peers. One moment that especially stood out was hearing Dr. Lomax encourage us to step into our “why” throughout the summer and remain connected to the purpose that drives our work. We also had the opportunity to take professional headshots, participate in a group photo, and engage in an activity where we reflected on our individual interests and values. These experiences helped create a strong sense of community from day one.

When I arrived at HSC on Monday, I was immediately welcomed into the team. I jumped straight into an all-staff meeting where I learned about current projects and initiatives across the organization. One aspect of my onboarding that I particularly appreciated was having dedicated one-on-one time with each team member. These conversations allowed me to better understand their roles, learn about ongoing projects, and identify ways I could contribute throughout the summer.

As the week progressed, I began supporting several initiatives across the organization. I had the opportunity to sit in on a call and draft communications for Boulevard Presbyterian Church regarding available space that could be utilized by nonprofit organizations. I also attended a meeting focused on exploring ways HSC can diversify their revenue streams. Although this project is still in its early stages, I got a glimpse into what nonprofit strategic planning entails. Additionally, I worked with our Operations Manager to learn more about HSC’s annual State of the Sector Survey. I was introduced to Airtable and gained insight into how survey data is collected, managed, and shared. Throughout the summer, I will be assisting with data entry, analysis, and the creation of charts and visualizations that help communicate key findings from the survey to our members.

One of my favorite experiences this week was attending an HSC Wellness Committee meeting. The committee discussed upcoming events, speakers, and their June newsletter. I was impressed by the committee’s commitment to promoting multiple dimensions of well-being, including physical, emotional, financial, and social wellness. As someone passionate about counseling and mental health services, I found this work especially meaningful. I also had the chance to work alongside HSC’s Marketing Specialist to create an Instagram carousel highlighting an article about Central Ohio nonprofits utilizing solar energy. Through this project, I learned more about Canva, HSC branding practices, and strategies for transforming longer-form pieces into accessible digital content.

After just one week, I already feel fortunate to be part of such a welcoming and mission-driven organization. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from the talented HSC team, contribute to meaningful projects, and gain a deeper understanding of the nonprofit sector in Central Ohio. I’m excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store.

I started my summer fellowship this week with Besa, a Columbus-based nonprofit, and it’s been a full and energizing introduction to the organization and the work ahead.

Besa’s mission is to connect more people to community service across Central Ohio. They curate so many volunteer experiences each month, serving as a resource for nonprofits, businesses, and individuals alike. My project this summer centers on their fill rate, which is the percentage of volunteer spots that actually get filled, and developing a data-informed strategy to increase it. To do that well, I need to understand the volunteer experience from the inside out, which meant getting into the community right away.

I volunteered with Ro’s Kitchen at Impact Community Action, a program building workforce readiness and financial literacy skills in youth ages 14 to 18. The program recently faced funding cuts that threatened its future, but through a partnership with Ro’s Kitchen, meal costs are now covered and the program continues. That partnership feels especially timely given that Local Matters, another key food resource in Columbus, recently closed. I also helped facilitate a corporate volunteer event with Worthington Enterprises, where 50 employees packed 500 birthday cake kits with handwritten letters destined for four nonprofit partners around the city. At St. Stephen’s Mid-Ohio Market, I restocked shelves, filled produce coolers, and helped serve around 300 community members. And at Central Community House’s Senior Tech Café, I provided one-on-one tech assistance to senior citizens, which turned out to be one of the more rewarding stops of the week.

Beyond the volunteering itself, onboarding gave me a real window into what makes Besa work. The team cares genuinely about the mission, and that shows in how they build relationships with nonprofit partners, structure corporate events, and approach their own internal culture. I’ve already sat in on program planning sessions and started getting a clearer picture of where I can contribute.

I’m leaving week one with a better sense of what fill rate data can and can’t tell you, and a lot of appreciation for the human side of this work that the numbers won’t fully capture. Looking forward to digging in further next week.

Hello! My name is Eva Fraser and I’m an incoming senior at Oberlin College studying English and Cinema and Media. This summer, I am working with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio through the summer fellowship at The Columbus Foundation.

My first week at The Women’s Fund has been a rewarding, whirlwind introduction to nonprofit work!

The week began with an orientation at The Columbus Foundation, where I got to meet everyone in the fellowship program. Dr. Lomax led the orientation, and had us do a self-portrait activity where we all got to learn more about each other’s passions, interests, and career goals. This very first part of the week anchored me in a community that will share in summer nonprofit experiences similar to my own. Being surrounded by people who were so excited and invested in their work made me feel a greater sense of purpose.

At The Women’s Fund this week, I observed and then dove right in. I started the week by familiarizing myself with The Women’s Fund’s software, brand, and materials, and in the morning of my second day I sat in on the team meeting. I then began to meet with each team member to discuss their roles and get to know them. I have already learned so much from everyone: Jenna, Drew, Arielle, Sierra, and Kelley. Each meeting presented opportunities for me to learn from them and grow my skills over the summer. I specifically enjoyed meeting with Arielle and talking about her grant making and advocacy work. Each person working at The Women’s Fund contributes so much to the nonprofit, and I am looking forward to supporting what they do by plugging in to some of their existing projects.

In my first couple of days, I designed a thank you card with their new logo and the quote has already been sent to the printers. I also helped out with a “Women For Women Wednesday” post, part of a weekly social media series that highlights The Women’s Fund’s grantees.

In the latter half of the week, I had an official meeting with Drew, Jenna, and the other intern, Morgan, to talk about it. They are plugging us in on several projects, and Morgan and I have already met to coordinate our work on them. Right now, I am working on reaching out to more organizations for Women for Women Wednesdays, planning my interview process and set up for the summer party, and most importantly working on a research project (my main project for the summer) in collaboration with The Columbus Foundation. It focuses on women’s involvement in the social sector and their pivotal role in creating the nonprofit world in Columbus. I look forward to doing more research and beginning to reach out and brainstorm for potential interviews. Arielle and Jenna, the two point people for this project, have given me a lot of choice in this project already, letting me pick two potential media formats I think would be fitting for this project.

In general, I have really enjoyed this close-knit and supportive work environment. In our meetings, each person has asked me what I’m looking to learn and grow in, and helped me take steps to realize my goals. For example, when I said I wanted to learn how to better come up with graphics and organizing official reports, Jenna showed me the annual report and how to make compelling and engaging graphics in Canva. Sierra even showed me how to mail merge just because it is a useful skill to have in my career. When I said I wanted to do more with videography, Drew encouraged me to do an interview booth at The Women’s Fund’s upcoming summer party.

This first week has left me feeling confident and ready for more.

Excitedly,

Eva

Hi everyone! My name is Muji Lai and I will be entering my senior year in flute performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. I hope to gain insight into arts administration and arts educational outreach during my Columbus Foundation fellowship at the Columbus Museum of Art! This was my first week at CMA working with Julie Defossez, Assistant Curator of Public Programming. It was wonderful to meet Dr. Lomax and all of the summer fellows at our orientation on Monday at the Columbus Foundation. I am truly looking forward to working with you all this summer! 

In the beginning of the week, I spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with the museum’s current and past public programming and current exhibitions. Public programming at CMA includes workshops, studios, artist talks, and live-music events for children, teens, adults, and all ages. The two main exhibitions are East of the Pacific, showcasing Asian American art, and Greater Columbus Fellowship exhibition, highlighting the works of six artists based in the Greater Columbus region. One of my main projects this summer is to design a program for college-age students (ages 18-25) at the CMA’s Pizzuti location in Short North. I began by compiling a research document of how 8 other leading museums in the US digitally archive their previous programs online. Having clear digital documentation of previous programs on our main website showcases the diversity of outreach at the museum, which is crucial for marketing, funding, and archival purposes. Then, I started my research on what programs for college-age students currently exist at other art institutions. I found that most existing programs fall into one of two approaches: networking/professional opportunities or creative social events. I also began to research what motivates, incentivizes, or dissuades college students from attending extracurricular events focused on the arts. All of this research will serve as a foundation for my own program proposal!

Additionally, I worked two events, one of which was an artist talk and another was a monthly Night Shift event with music, drinks, and art.​​ I also had the opportunity to meet all of the administrative staff at CMA at the meetings I attended, including Curatorial x Advancement, two Curatorial departmental meetings, Engagement touch-base, and Special Events. I am very grateful to the kind and welcoming team here and looking forward to a great summer at the museum! 

– Muji